Ashes By Susan Beth Pfeffer Essay

Elbert Hubbard once said “It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide what to do.” This is certainly the case in “Ashes” by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Ashleigh “Ashes” is a young girl living with divorced parents. Every Tuesday she gets to see her dad, who encourages her to do whatever makes her happy. This Tuesday, instead of what Ashes wants, but what he does. Ashleigh’s dad urges her to “borrow” (steal) the $200 her mother keeps hidden for emergencies so he can pay off his debt. Ashleigh will take the money because she thinks her dad will pay her back, she doesn’t want to disappoint her parent, and she believes her father is always doing the right thing. Ashes believes that her father will pay her back the money he owes her on Friday. “ ‘And I swear to you, Ashes, I’d have the money in your hands by Friday at the latest.’ ” (Page 4) Pfeffer writes, though she also adds “...like most of his promises, that one never quite happened.” (Page 1) Ashleigh’s dad promises to pay her back in three days at most, but he never keeps his promises. That’s a problem, but Ashleigh wants to believe that he will follow on the important things. Her dad might not complete what he said he would for little things or impossible

On page 1, the story says “Dad gets by a grin and willingness to help. He’s always there if you need him.” He helps everyone around him when he’s with Ashleigh, so she thinks everything he does is selfless and moral even when it’s not. Ashleigh believes her dad is the nicest person. He will return wallets and give people with broken-down cars gas money but that’s is all just manipulation so Ashes doesn’t question his urging to steal her mom’s money. She wants to grow up to be just like him when she’s older. Ashes idolizes her dad, wanting to be a dreamer-never really caring about anything. It would be a big step in her “right” direction to take the $200 and give it to her